Method for producing a liquid crystal panel

ABSTRACT

A method for producing a liquid crystal panel by forming a plurality of liquid crystal sealing-in areas between a transparent pair of large-area substrates and dividing the liquid crystal sealing-in areas into separate liquid crystal sealing-in areas. The method includes (A) forming transparent electrodes which form a plurality of liquid crystal panels on a surface of each of the large-area substrates, (B) forming seals, each of which surround the transparent electrode required to form one liquid crystal panel, on one of the large-area substrates in order to form liquid crystal injection openings, and forming liquid crystal injection openings in the seals, (C) bonding together the large-area substrates such that their transparent electrodes face each other, with the seals interposed therebetween, (D) removing a portion of one of the pair of large-area substrates such that the liquid crystal injection opening is exposed to the outside, (E) injecting liquid crystal into the liquid crystal sealing-in area through the liquid crystal injection opening exposed to the outside, and then sealing the liquid crystal injection opening with a sealing agent, and (F) dividing the pair of large-area substrates into separate panels after the liquid crystal injection. According to this method, liquid crystal injection can be performed without completely cutting the large-area liquid crystal panel so that the production steps are simplified.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention broadly relates to a method for producing a liquid crystalpanel. More particularly, the invention relates to a method forproducing a liquid crystal panel in which a plurality of liquid crystalpanels are produced by cutting a large-area liquid crystal panel havinga plurality of liquid crystal sealing-in areas formed between a pair oflarge-area substrates.

2. Description of Related Art

In a known conventional method for producing a liquid crystal panel, alarge-area liquid crystal panel is formed by forming a plurality ofliquid crystal sealing-in areas in a plane between a pair of large-areasubstrates, and the large-area liquid crystal panel is cut into aplurality of liquid crystal panels. FIGS. 28 to 31 schematicallyillustrate the conventional method for producing a liquid crystal panel.

Referring to FIG. 28, for example, predetermined wirings, transparentelectrodes, and active elements are formed on the inside faces of twotransparent substrates 101 and 104, each of which is made of glass,followed by coating of orientation films. Then, seals 106 are printed oneither one of the transparent substrates 101 and 104 to form liquidcrystal sealing-in areas 117, followed by bonding of the transparentsubstrates 101 and 104 using the seals 106, as shown in FIG. 28, therebyforming a large-area empty panel 110 with the plurality of liquidcrystal sealing-in areas 117 arranged in a plane. A liquid crystalinjection opening 106 a is formed in each liquid crystal sealing-in area117 bordered by its associated seal 106.

Thereafter, cuts or grooves 108 are scribed in the surfaces of thetransparent substrates 101 and 104. Two parallel scribed grooves 108each are formed along the direction of arrangement of the liquid crystalinjection openings 106 a, of which one of each pair crosses the liquidcrystal injection openings 106 a. When pressure is applied to thevicinity of these scribed grooves 108 to cut the transparent substrates101 and 104, the large-area empty panel 110 is cut into rectangularintermediate-area empty panels 10 a, with the liquid crystal injectionopenings 106 a and the connecting terminals 120 a exposed to theoutside, as shown in FIG. 29.

From the liquid crystal injection openings 106 a, liquid crystal isinjected into the intermediate-area empty panels 110 a, after which theliquid crystal injection openings 106 a are sealed. This formsintermediate-area liquid crystal panels with the liquid crystal layersealed in the liquid crystal sealing-in areas 117. Thereafter, as shownin FIG. 30, grooves 118 are scribed on each of the intermediate-arealiquid crystal panels 110 a. The scribed grooves 118 divide theintermediate-area liquid crystal panels 110 a according to theindividual liquid crystal sealing-in areas 11, and allow connectingterminals 120 b formed on the inside surface of the transparentsubstrate 101 to be exposed to the outside so as to extend from thesides of the liquid crystal sealing-in areas 117. Applying pressure tothe vicinity of these scribed grooves 118 to cut the intermediate-arealiquid crystal panels 110 a results in the production of individualliquid crystal panels 119, as shown in FIG. 31.

In the above-described conventional method for producing a liquidcrystal panel, however, it is necessary to cut the large-area emptypanel 110 (FIG. 28) into intermediate-area empty panels 110 a (FIG. 29),and to further cut the intermediate-area liquid crystal panels 110 aformed by filling the intermediate-area empty panels 110 a with liquidcrystal into the individual liquid crystal panels 119, so that it isnecessary to prepare producing devices and panel jigs in correspondencewith the large-area empty panel 110, the intermediate-area empty panelsor the intermediate-area liquid crystal panels 110 a, and producingdevices, inspection devices, and panel jigs for the individual liquidcrystal panels. This results in higher facility costs and morecomplicated steps.

Liquid crystal panels of different standards that are constructed withdifferent dimensions may be formed in the large-area empty panel. Insuch a case, the intermediate-area empty panels and individual liquidcrystal panels formed by dividing the large-area panel have differentstructures and dimensions, which results in more sophisticated stepcontrol and thus increased production costs.

In addition, since the large-area panel is completely cut during theproduction process, pieces of glass flies from the cut portions of thecut panel, so that, for example, the pieces of glass stick onto thesurfaces of the connecting terminals 120 a and 120 b in the liquidcrystal panels 119. This gives rise to the problem of poor connectionwhen, for example, connecting integrated circuits and flexiblesubstrates to the connecting terminals 120 a and 120 b.

In view of the above-described problems, an object of the invention isto provide a method for producing a liquid crystal panel, which allows alarge-area empty panel to be successively processed, without cutting itcompletely during the liquid crystal panel producing process, therebyreducing production costs such as facility costs and control costs, andpreventing the production of defective products due to flying pieces ofglass.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To these ends, according to the invention, there is provided a methodfor producing a liquid crystal by forming a plurality of liquid crystalsealing-in areas between a pair of large-area substrates, at least oneof the substrates being a light-transmitting substrate, and cutting theplurality of liquid crystal sealing-in areas into separate areas, themethod comprising:

(1) an electrode forming step in which transparent electrodes requiredto form a plurality of liquid crystal panels are formed an a surface ofeach substrate of the pair of large-area substrates;

(2) a seal forming step performed on the electrode-formed surface of oneof the pair of large-area substrates, in which a plurality of seals,each of which surround the transparent electrode required to form oneliquid crystal panel, are formed to form the plurality of liquid crystalsealing-in areas, and liquid crystal injection openings are formed ineach of the seals;

(3) a substrate bonding step in which the pair of large-area substratesare bonded together such that the transparent electrode of onelarge-area substrate faces the transparent electrode of the other of thelarge-area substrates, with the seals interposed between the substrates;

(4) a substrate removing step in which a portion of one of the pair oflarge-area substrates bonded together is removed such that at least oneof the liquid crystal injection openings is exposed to the outside;

(5) a liquid crystal sealing-in step in which liquid crystal is injectedinto the liquid crystal sealing-in area through the liquid crystalinjection opening exposed to the outside, and then the liquid crystalinjection opening is sealed; and

(6) a panel dividing step in which the pair of bonded large-areasubstrates are divided into separate liquid crystal panels after theliquid crystal injection.

In the above-described method for producing a liquid panel, at the timethe liquid crystal is injected into the liquid crystal sealing-in areafrom the liquid crystal injection opening, one of the transparentsubstrates of the pair of large-area substrates is not cut so that itremains a continuous large-area substrate. In the liquid crystalsealing-in step, the large-area transparent substrate is set in adevice, and the liquid crystal is injected into all of the liquidcrystal sealing-in areas by, for example, the dropwise injection method,followed by sealing of the liquid crystal injection openings with asealing agent. Thereafter, the large-area transparent substrate isdivided to form individual liquid crystal panels.

According to the method for producing a liquid crystal panel, aftercutting out a portion where the liquid crystal injection opening isformed in one of the pair of opposing transparent substrates with theplurality of liquid crystal sealing-in areas, liquid crystal is injectedinto the liquid crystal sealing-in area, after which the pair oftransparent substrates are cut into individual liquid crystal cells. Forthis reason, when the liquid crystal is injected into the liquid crystalsealing-in area from the liquid crystal injection opening, it ispossible to set the large-area transparent substrate containing theplurality of liquid crystal panel sections in a device, and inject theliquid crystal into all of the panel sections with, for example, thedropwise injection method. As a result, the liquid crystal injectionstep is simplified in the producing method of the invention compared tothe conventional producing method where the liquid crystal must beinjected into each of the individual liquid crystal panels cut from thelarge-area transparent substrate. In addition, it no longer becomesnecessary to use a special device for carrying out the liquid crystalinjection step. Further, it is possible to produce liquid crystal panelsof different standards with different sizes on exactly the sameproduction line, thus making it unnecessary to prepare liquid crystalsealing-in devices in accordance with different liquid crystal panelstandards.

Liquid crystal panels can roughly be divided into active type liquidcrystal panels and simple matrix type liquid crystal panels. The activetype liquid crystal panel is one that has an active element provided forevery pixel or dot, in which during the writing period the activeelement is turned on to write data in terms of a voltage, while it isturned off during the other periods in order-to maintain the voltage.Examples of active elements include metal-insulator-metal (MIM) elementsand thin film transistor (TFT) elements. On the other hand, the simplematrix type liquid crystal panel, which is of the type having drivesignals applied thereto, does not have an active element for everypixel, but has scanning electrodes and data electrodes that intersecteach other to form intersections that correspond to the pixels or dots.

The active type liquid crystal panel and the simple matrix type liquidcrystal panel can both be produced by the method for producing a liquidcrystal panel of the invention. When the invention is applied to theproduction of active-type liquid crystal panels, it is necessary toperform an active element forming step to form an active element groupon the surface of the transparent substrate in order to connect thegroup with the transparent electrode formed on the transparent substratesurface for electrical conduction.

In another embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned pair oflarge-area substrates are glass substrates. In the above-describedsubstrate removing step, a cut is formed on a surface of one of theglass substrates, and pressure is applied to the surface cut in order tofurther cut the cut portion, whereby a portion of one of the large-areasubstrates is removed. In this case, the cut is formed on the surface ofone of the glass substrates by, for example, rotating a roller-likecarbide blade as it presses against the surface of the substrate. Theroller-like carbide blade is commonly called a scriber.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the seal forming step canbe performed by forming a plurality of seals such that the liquidcrystal injection openings are arranged in straight lines. In such acase, the substrate removing step can be performed by forming two linearcuts along the direction of arrangement of the plurality of liquidcrystal injection openings disposed linearly, and removing along-and-narrow portion bordered by the surface cuts from one of thelarge-area substrates.

In one embodiment, the long-and-narrow portion is removed from thetransparent substrate in order to form an elongated groove incorrespondence with the long-and-narrow portion in the transparentsubstrate. The liquid crystal injection openings of the liquid crystalscaling-in areas are exposed to the outside through the elongatedgroove. In the liquid crystal injection step, the liquid crystal isinjected by dripping the liquid crystal at a location where the liquidcrystal injection opening is exposed to the outside in the elongatedgroove. Thereafter, the large-area transparent substrate, which has notbeen cut, is cut to form individual liquid crystal panels.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the substrateremoving step can be performed by removing the long-and-narrow portionfrom the large-area substrate, while the panel sections on both sides ofthe long-and-narrow portion are shifted away from the long-and-narrowportion. After the substrate removing step, the seal hardening step isperformed to harden the seal.

In the this embodiment, the long-and-narrow portion can be easilyremoved, since the panel sections on both sides of the long-and-narrowportion are shifted and separated from the long-and-narrow portion. Inaddition, the panel sections can be smoothly moved, since the seal hasnot yet been hardened.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, two surfacestraight-line cuts are formed to form tapering long-and-narrow portionthat tapers from narrow to wide from the inner side to the outer side.According to this embodiment, the long-and-narrow portion can be easilyremoved from the transparent substrate, without moving the panelsections away from the long-and-narrow portion.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the seal forming step canbe performed by forming two or more rows of a plurality of sealsarranged such that the liquid crystal injection openings are disposed instraight lines, with the liquid crystal openings of adjacent seals ofdifferent rows facing each other. According to this embodiment, theliquid crystal-injection step can be performed to inject liquid crystalinto two liquid crystal sealing-in areas at the same time by drippingthe liquid crystal in a location where the liquid crystal injectionopenings face each other.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the substrate removingstep can be performed by cutting out and removing a window-shapedportion, instead of an elongated groove, from one of the pair oflarge-area substrates. According to the this embodiment, this can limitthe extent of flow of the liquid crystal.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the seal forming step canbe performed by forming two or more rows of a plurality of sealsarranged such that the liquid crystal injection openings are disposed instraight lines, with the liquid crystal injection openings of adjacentseals of different rows facing each other. In the substrate removingstep, a window-shaped portion is cut out and removed from one of thepair of substrates such that the opposing pair of liquid crystalopenings is exposed to the outside at the same time. According to thisembodiment, it is possible to inject liquid crystal to two liquidcrystal sealing-in areas at the same time by dripping the liquid crystalin one window-shaped portion, thus limiting the extent of flow of theliquid crystal.

In still another embodiment of the invention, a common liquid crystalpanel has a connecting terminal section, extending out from around theliquid crystal sealing-in area, that contain a plurality of connectingterminals therein that are connected to the transparent electrode in theliquid crystal sealing-in area. A liquid crystal driving IC is eitherdirectly connected to the transparent electrodes or indirectly connectedthereto through, for example, a wiring substrate in order to drive thetransparent electrodes. A description will now be given of embodimentsof a method for producing a liquid crystal panel that includes theformation of such a connecting terminal section.

According to the invention, there is provided a method for producing aliquid crystal by forming a plurality of liquid crystal sealing-in areasbetween a pair of large-area substrates, at least one of the substratesbeing a light-transmitting substrate, and dividing the plurality ofliquid crystal sealing-in areas into separate areas, the methodcomprising:

(1) an electrode forming step in which transparent electrodes requiredto form a plurality of liquid crystal panels and a connecting terminalconnected thereto are formed on a surface of each substrate of the pairof large-area substrates;

(2) a seal forming step performed on the electrode-formed surface of oneof the pair of large-area substrates, in which a plurality of seals,each of which surround the transparent electrode required to form-oneliquid crystal panel, are formed to form the plurality of liquid crystalsealing-in areas, liquid crystal injection openings are formed in eachof the seals, and connecting terminal sections are formed around each ofthe liquid crystal sealing-in areas;

(3) a substrate bonding step in which the pair of large-area substratesare bonded together such that the transparent electrode of the onelarge-area substrate faces the transparent electrode of the otherlarge-area substrates, with the seals interposed between the substrates;

(4) a substrate removing step in which a portion of one of the pair oflarge-area substrates bonded together is removed such that at least oneof the liquid crystal injection openings and at least one of theconnecting terminal sections are exposed to the outside;

(5) a liquid crystal sealing-in step in which liquid crystal is injectedinto the liquid crystal seating-in area through the liquid crystalinjection opening exposed to the outside, and then the liquid crystalinjection opening is sealed; and

(6) a panel dividing step in which the pair of bonded large-areasubstrates are divided into separate liquid crystal panels after theliquid crystal injection.

According to this method, it is possible to open the liquid crystalinjection opening and to expose the connecting terminal section to theoutside, without completely cutting the large-area panel, since only aportion of one of the substrates is removed. Therefore, the liquidcrystal injection step and liquid crystal panel electrical tests can beperformed without completely cutting the large-area panel. Consequently,fewer liquid crystal panels need to be handled during the productionprocess, and even when the individual liquid crystal panels vary inshape and size, a production line can be formed, without using, forexample, jigs, containers, or devices, in correspondence with liquidcrystal panels of different shapes and sizes, as long as the sizes ofthe large-area panels are standardized. As a result, it is possible toreduce production costs and production time, easily perform processcontrol, and thus increase production efficiency. In addition, even whenthin substrate pieces are produced when part of the substrate is beingremoved, the large-area panel can be washed without cutting it, therebypreventing the production of defective products due to adhesion of thethin glass pieces. As a result, product yield can also be increased.

In an embodiment of the above-described method of producing a liquidcrystal panel, the substrate removing step comprises two separate stepsof removing part of the large-area substrate such that at least one ofthe liquid crystal injection openings is exposed to the outside, andremoving part of the large-area substrate such that at least one of theconnecting terminals is exposed to the outside.

According to the method, the above-described removing steps areperformed separately, so that the liquid crystal injection opening andthe connecting terminal section can be more freely placed in a largernumber of locations, and thus to increase the processing efficiency ofthe large-area panel having a plurality of liquid crystal panels withsubstantially the same structure arranged thereon.

In another embodiment, an electrical test is performed through theconnecting terminal section exposed to the outside between the liquidcrystal sealing-in step and the panel dividing step.

In another embodiment, the liquid crystal injection opening and theconnecting terminal section can be exposed to the outside by removingthe long-and-narrow portions of the pair of the large-area substrateswhich intersect each other. According to the method, since thelong-and-narrow portions to be removed are formed on the pair ofsubstrates so as to intersect each other, the large-area panel is formedinto a structure with parts that are parallel to and cross each other,thus allowing a larger area to be removed from the substrate since thearea of removal extends in two directions. Therefore, less constraintsare placed on the location and structure of the individual liquidcrystal panels in the large-area panel, and, in addition, a smallernumber of portions need to be removed with respect to the number ofliquid crystal panels arranged, thereby simplifying the substrateremoving step and thus allowing the step to be performed in a shortertime.

In another embodiment, the pair of large-area substrates are glasssubstrates. A cut is formed on a surface of one of the glass substrates,and pressure is applied to the surface cut in order to cut the cutportion, whereby part of one of the large-area substrates is removed.This method is a more realistic processing method and more easier toperform.

In this embodiment, it is preferable to remove part of the large-areasubstrate with a gap formed around the portion to be removed. Since partof the substrate is removed with a gap between the flanks formed by thecutting, the flanks rub against each other less frequently due tocontact, thereby producing a smaller number of thin substrate piecesfrom the flanks during cutting of the substrate.

In addition, it is preferable to form tapering surface cuts such thatthe portion to be removed tapers from narrow to wide from the inner sideto the outer side, when removing part of the substrate by forming thesurface cut. Since the flanks formed by the cutting taper from narrow towide toward the surface substrate, it becomes easier to cut the portionof the substrate to be removed, and reduce the number of thin substratepieces produced from the flanks during the cutting of the substrate.

In still another embodiment, an electrical test can be performed afterconnecting at least one electrical member, such as, for example, anintegrated circuit chip or a flexible wiring plate, to a plurality ofconnecting terminals of a connecting terminal section. According to themethod, it is possible to perform such tests as a liquid crystal displaydriving test, without completely cutting the large-area panel, with theelectrical member connected to the individual liquid crystal panels,thus further increasing the testing efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a main step in an embodimentof a liquid crystal panel producing method in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating another main step in theembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another main step in theembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line IV—IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating still another main step in theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a section illustrating a step following the step of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a main step in anotherembodiment of a liquid crystal panel producing method in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a main step in still anotherembodiment of a liquid crystal panel producing method in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a main step in still anotherembodiment of a liquid crystal panel producing method in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a main step in still anotherembodiment of a liquid crystal panel producing method in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the substrateforming step and the substrate bonding step;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an MIM element shown as an example of anactive element;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a main step of still anotherembodiment of a liquid crystal panel producing method in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating another main step in theembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of still another main step in theembodiment;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of still another main step in theembodiment;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the panel structure turned upsidedown;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a step following the step ofFIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a flow chart of a liquid crystal panel producing method inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 20 is a flow chart of another liquid crystal panel producing methodin accordance with the invention;

FIG. 21 is a flow chart of still another liquid crystal panel producingmethod in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 22 is a flow chart of still another liquid crystal panel producingmethod in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 23 is a section illustrating an example of the substrate removingstep;

FIG. 24 is a section illustrating a step following the step of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a section of another example of the substrate removing step;

FIG. 26 is a section illustrating a step following the step of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a plan view of still another embodiment of a liquid crystalpanel producing method in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a main step of a conventionalliquid crystal panel producing method;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view illustrating another main step in theconventional liquid crystal panel producing method; and

FIG. 30 is a perspective view illustrating still another main step ofthe conventional liquid crystal panel producing method.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view illustrating still another main step ofthe conventional liquid crystal panel producing method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 11, indium tin oxide (ITO) is deposited by sputteringonto one of the surfaces (the lower surface in the figure) of anopposing substrate 1 formed from glass base material that transmitslight, followed by patterning to form a plurality of transparentelectrodes 2. The number of the transparent electrodes 2 used depends onthe number of liquid crystal panels to be form. In this embodiment, thenumber of transparent electrodes 2 required to form four liquid crystalpanels is used. Thereafter, an orientation film 3 is form on eachtransparent electrode.

On the other hand, a plurality of linear and parallel wiring layers 6are formed on an element substrate 4 formed from glass base materialthat transmits light, followed by formation of a plurality oftransparent electrodes 7 between the wiring layers 6, whereby elementrow groups 8 are formed. The number of the element row groups 8 usedalso depends on the number of liquid crystal panels to be formed. Inthis embodiment, the number of element row groups 8 required to formfour liquid crystal panels are used.

The plurality of transparent electrodes 7 are disposed in a matrixarrangement in each of the element row groups 8, with each transparentelectrode 7 forming one pixel. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view showing thestructure of the vicinity of one transparent electrode 7. In thestructure, tantalum (Ta) is used to form a willing layer 6 and an MIMfirst electrode 9 on the element substrate 4, followed by formation ofan anodic oxidation film 11 on the first electrode 9 and formation of anMIM second electrode 12 on the anodic oxidation film 11 using chromium(Cr). Accordingly, an MIM element 13 is formed as an active element bythe first electrode 9, the anodic oxidation film 11, and the secondelectrode 12. Thereafter, using ITO, the transparent electrode 7 isformed on the front ends of the second electrode 12, with onetransparent electrode 7 forming a pixel. Then, the orientation film 14is formed on the transparent electrode 7.

Thereafter, by screen printing, a seal 16 is formed around each elementrow group 8 formed on the surface of the element substrate 4 with thetransparent electrodes 7, that is at the outer edge of each liquidcrystal panel. A portion of each seal 16 has an opening 16 a serving asa liquid crystal injection opening.

After the opposing substrate 1 and the element substrate 4 have beenprocessed in the above-described manner, a bead-like spacer is spread onthe electrode surfaces of either one of the substrates and the electrodesurfaces of each of the substrates 1 and 4 are disposed facing eachother in order to bond the substrates 1 and 4 together, resulting information of a large-area empty panel, as shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1,the area 17 surrounded by the seal 16 is an area where liquid crystal isfilled in.

Thereafter, a linear cut or groove 18 a is scribed on the surface of theopposing substrate 1 so as to cross each liquid crystal injectionopening 16 a. Another linear cut 18 b is formed parallel to the lineargroove 18 a. The linear cuts 18 a and 18 b can be scribed by a scriberwith a roller-like cutting blade. FIG. 4 is a section taken along lineIV—IV of FIG. 1, in which a long-and-narrow portion 19 is formed betweenthe two surface cuts 18 a and 18 b, with one panel section 1 b of theopposing substrate 1 formed on each side of the long-and-narrow portion19.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a separating tool 21 with a vacuumadsorption portion is contacted with the surface of the narrow-and-longportion 19 in order to adsorb the narrow-and-long portion 19 by vacuumadsorption using the separating tool 21. In the same way, the separatingtools 22, each with a vacuum adsorption portion, are contacted with theindividual panel sections 1 b and 1 b in order to adsorb the panelsections by vacuum adsorption using the separating tools. Then, thepanel sections 1 b and 1 b are slid horizontally in the directions ofarrow B, respectively, away from the narrow-and-long portion 19 by about50 to 100 Am, forming gaps between both sides of the narrow-and-longportion. As shown in FIG. 6, with the narrow-and-long portion separatedfrom the panel sections 1 b and 1 b, the separating tool 21 is movedupward and away from the panel sections 1 b and 1 b, that is theopposing substrate 1, whereby the narrow-and-long portion is removedfrom the opposing substrate 1. At this time, both of the panel sections1 b can be slid smoothly, since the seals 16 have not yet hardened.

Thereafter, both of the panel sections 1 b are moved back to theiroriginal positions by moving the separating tools 22 back to theiroriginal positions, after which the seals 16 are irradiated withultraviolet light and thereby hardened. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2,a large-area empty panel is formed, with the narrow-and-long portion 19removed. In the empty panel, the liquid crystal injection openings 16 aof each of the liquid crystal injection areas 17 are exposed to theoutside as a result of the removal of the long-and-narrow portion 19.

Thereafter, in a vacuum, liquid crystal is dripped in the vicinity ofeach of the liquid crystal injection openings 16 a, and is injected intoeach of the liquid crystal injection areas 17 as liquid crystal 23 in anatmosphere. This method of liquid crystal injection is commonly calledthe dropwise injection method. Thereafter, a sealing agent 24 is used toseal each liquid crystal injection opening, as a result of which alarge-area liquid crystal panel is formed. As shown in FIG. 3, incorrespondence with the size of one liquid crystal panel, grooves 28 aare then scribed in the opposing substrate 1, followed by formation ofgrooves 28 b in the element substrate 4. The predetermined number ofliquid crystal cells (four in this embodiment) are produced by cuttingthe one large-area panel along the-scribed grooves.

According to this embodiment, at the time the liquid crystal is injectedfrom each liquid crystal injection opening 16 a into each liquid crystalsealing-in area 17, in the liquid crystal injection step, the large-arealiquid crystal panel containing the plurality of panel sections whenempty can be set in a predetermined liquid crystal sealing-in device inorder to inject liquid crystal into all of the panel sections by thedropwise injection method. Therefore, compared to the conventionalliquid crystal panel producing method in which liquid crystal isinjected into each of the empty panels after cutting of the large areaempty panel into the individual empty panels, the liquid crystalinjection step becomes less complicated, thus eliminating the need for aspecial liquid crystal sealing-in device for the step. In addition, itis possible to produce liquid crystal panels of various sizes on exactlythe same manufacturing line, producing liquid crystal panels ofdifferent standards, without having to prepare liquid crystal sealing-indevices in correspondence with the various standards of the liquidcrystal panels.

Although in the foregoing description, the opposing substrate 1, ratherthan the other of the pair of substrates, was the first one to be cut toexpose each of the liquid crystal injection opening 16 a to the outside,the element substrate may be the first one to be cut.

Although in the foregoing description, the MIM element 13 was formed asthe active element, a TFT element may be formed as the active element.In addition, it is obvious that the invention can be applied whenpreparing a simple matrix-type liquid crystal panel. In the matrix-typeliquid crystal panel, which is a panel that does not contain an activeelement for each pixel, the intersection portion of the scanningelectrode and the data electrode correspond to a pixel or dot, and adrive signal is directly applied to these electrodes.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a main step of a liquid crystal panelproducing method of another embodiment in accordance with the invention.The embodiment differs from the embodiment discussed above in that theinner side (lower side in the figure) of the narrow-and-long portion 39of the opposing substrate 1 is narrower than the outer side (top side inthe figure) of the narrow-and-long portion, so that the scribed groovesor the surface cuts 38 a and 38 b have inclined or tapered faces. Theother production steps are the same as those of The embodiment of FIG.2, so that they will not be described below.

In this embodiment, since the scribed grooves 38 and 38 b are tapered,the narrow-and-long portion 39 can be easily and reliably removed fromthe opposing substrate 1 by moving the narrow-and-long portion 39 in thedirection of arrow C, thus making it unnecessary to horizontally slidethe panel portions 1 b and 1 b on both sides of the narrow-and-longportion 39.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a main step in a liquid crystal panel producingmethod of another embodiment in accordance with the invention. Thisembodiment differs from the embodiment of FIG. 2 in the following twoways. The first difference is that when two of the four seals 16 arearranged in a row to form a first row L1 and the remaining two seals 16are arranged in a row to form a second row L2, so that each seal of L1faces the seal of L2 adjacent thereto, the liquid crystal injectionopenings 16 a of each seal 16 in L1 and the seal 16 in L2 adjacentthereto face each other. The second difference is that the two scribedgrooves 18 a and 18 b are formed so as to cross each of the liquidcrystal injection openings 16 a of the facing seals 16. The otherproduction steps are the same as those in the foregoing description, sothat they will not be hereunder described.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to halve the number of manhours needed for the task of dripping the liquid crystal in the liquidcrystal sealing-in step by simultaneously dripping liquid crystal intothe pair of opposing liquid crystal sealing-in areas 17.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a liquid crystal panel producing method ofanother embodiment in accordance with the invention. This embodiment ofFIG. 2, a narrow-and-long portion was cut out and removed from theopposing substrate in order to expose the liquid crystal injectionopenings 16 a of the liquid crystal sealing-in areas 17 to the outside.In contrast to this, in the embodiment of FIG. 9, window-shaped portions16 are cut out and removed from the opposing substrate 1 incorrespondence with the liquid crystal injection openings 16 a of theliquid crystal sealing-in areas 17. The window-shaped portions may be,for example, square-shaped, rectangular, or circular. The otherproduction steps are the same as those of the embodiment of FIG. 2, sothat they will not be hereunder described.

When a narrow-and-long portion is removed from the opposing substrate 1,as shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal, dripped at the liquid crystalinjection opening 16 a, may flow out along the outer periphery of theliquid crystal seal 16, but the window-shaped portions do not allow theliquid crystal to flow out in such a way, thus preventing the liquidcrystal from being wasted.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a liquid crystal panel producing method ofanother embodiment in accordance with the invention. This embodimentdiffers from embodiment of FIG. 2 as follows:

(1) The liquid crystal injection openings 16 a of the liquid crystalsealing-in areas 17 are in different seal rows, forming pairs ofopenings, facing each other, and

(2) Window-shaped portions are cut out and removed from the opposingsubstrate 1 in the form of common window portions 26 that allow theopposing liquid crystal injection openings 16 a of each pair of theopenings 16 a to be exposed to the outside at the same time. The otherproducing steps are the same as those of the embodiment of FIG. 2, sothat they will not be described below.

In the this embodiment, a liquid crystal is dripped into thewindow-shaped portions 26 in a vacuum, and then the liquid crystal isinjected into the liquid crystal-sealing-in areas 17 in an atmosphere,followed by sealing of the liquid crystal injection openings 16 a with asealing agent. Thereafter, the liquid crystal panel sections are cut oneat a time from the liquid crystal panel. According to the embodiment, itis possible to halve the number of steps required for the liquid crystalsealing-in step, since liquid crystal can be injected into two liquidcrystal sealing-in areas 17 using only one window-shaped portion 26.

As described with reference to FIG. 28, in a commonly used liquidcrystal panel, a connecting terminal section is formed around the liquidcrystal scaling-in area so as to protrude out from the area, and theplurality of connecting terminals formed within the connecting terminalsection are connected to the transparent electrodes in the liquidcrystal sealing-in areas. An IC for driving the liquid crystal is eitherconnected directly to each connecting terminal or indirectly connectedto each connecting terminal through, for example, a wiring substrate inorder to drive the transparent electrodes.

Although, the aforementioned connecting terminal was not discussed inthe previous embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, thisdoes not mean that such a connecting terminal is not used in each of theprevious embodiments. The connecting terminal was not shown in thefigures and was not described only for the sake of-simplifying thedescription. More specifically, FIGS. 1 to 10, do not show theconnecting terminal.

In the description of the liquid crystal panel producing method ofEmbodiment 6 below, the connecting terminal will also be discussed. Morespecifically, another embodiment is carried out, for example, byfollowing the steps shown in FIG. 19.

In Step P1, wirings, electrodes, active elements, orientation films, andso forth are formed on the inner faces of transparent substrates. Morespecifically, as shown in FIG. 13, wiring layers and transparentelectrodes (not shown) are formed in a predetermined pattern on theinner faces of transparent substrates made of such material as glass,that is on the inner faces of substrates 1 and 4 that transmit light.The active element, such as a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) element or athin film transistor (TFT) element, may be formed on the surface ofeither one of the transparent substrates 1 and 4, when necessary.

In general, the substrate onto which the active element is formed is thetransparent substrate 4 to which is also formed a connecting terminalsection 20 a described later. A plurality of connecting terminals areformed in the connecting terminal section 20 a. The wiring layer patternformed on the substrate 4 is connected to the connecting terminals inits associated connecting terminal section 20 a. A connecting terminalsection 20 b is formed on the opposing substrate 1 that opposes thesubstrate 4. A plurality of connecting terminals, formed in theconnecting terminal section 20 b, are connected to the wiring layerformed on the opposing substrate 1.

An orientation film, formed from polyimide resin or other material thatorients the liquid crystal, is applied to the inner surface of eitherthe opposing substrate 1 or the substrate 4, followed by rubbing in apredetermined direction.

Then, in Step P2 of FIG. 19 in which a seal is formed, a seal 16,composed of ultraviolet-curing resin, is screen-printed onto the innersurface of either one of the opposing substrate 1 and the substrate 4 soas to border a liquid crystal sealing-in area 17. A liquid crystalinjection opening 16 a is formed in the part of the liquid crystalsealing-in area 17 not screen-printed with the seal 16.

Thereafter, in Step P3 of FIG. 19 in which the substrates are bondedtogether, a spacer 16 for maintaining the liquid crystal layer to auniform thickness is spread on the inner surface of either the opposingsubstrate 1 or the substrate 4, whichever has the seal 16 screen-printedthereon. Then, the opposing substrate 1 and the substrate 4 are bondedtogether, with the seal 16 disposed therebetween.

In Step P4, the seal is hardened by irradiating it with ultravioletlight, while the distance between the opposing substrate 1 and thesubstrate 4, that is the size of the cell gap is maintained with highprecision, whereby a large area empty panel 30, shown in FIG. 13, isproduced. The liquid crystal sealing-in areas 17, and the connectingterminal sections 20 a and 20 b associated with their respective liquidcrystal sealing-in areas 17 are formed on the large-area empty panel 30in a predetermined arrangement. FIG. 13 shows a simplified large-areaempty panel 30 with four liquid crystal sealing-in areas 17 arrangedvertically and oriented in the same direction. The liquid crystalinjection openings 16 a are disposed on the same side of theirrespective liquid crystal sealing-in areas 17.

In Step P5 of FIG. 19 in which the liquid crystal injection openings areremoved, two cuts 18 a and 18 b are scribed on the outer surface of theopposing substrate 1 using a scriber along the direction of arrangementof the liquid crystal injection openings 16 a of the liquid crystalsealing-in areas 17. The scribed cut 18 a crosses each of the liquidcrystal filling opening 16 a. As shown in FIG. 23, the scribed cuts 18 aand 18 b are formed parallel to each other so as to be spaced apart by apredetermined distance.

The opposing substrate 1 is cut along the scribed cuts 18 a and 18 b byapplying pressure along the portion of the surface of the opposingelectrode 1 with the scribed cuts 18 a and 18 b, using, for example, aroller, or by adsorption using a separating tool, which is describedlater. As shown in FIG. 24, a separating tool 21 with a vacuumadsorption section is used to adsorb the surface of a long-and-narrowportion 19 bordered by the scribed cuts 18 a and 18 b on the opposingsubstrate 1. On the other hand, separating tools 22 each with a vacuumadsorption section are used to adsorb the surfaces of the panel sections1 b and 1 b disposed on both sides of the long-and-narrow section 19.During adsorption, the long-and-narrow portion 19 and the panel sections1 b and 1 b are subjected to an external force, causing thelong-and-narrow portion 19 and the panel sections 1 b to split andseparate.

In this condition, the left and right separating tools 22 and 22 areused to slide the panel sections 1 b and 1 b about 50 to 100 Am outwardin the direction of arrow B so as to intersect the direction of thescribed cuts 18 a and 18 b, thus forming gaps at the flanks of thelong-and-narrow portion 19. Alter the panel sections 1 b and 1 b areslightly spaced apart from the long-and-narrow portion 19, theseparating tool 21 removes the long-and-narrow portion 19 by raising itupward. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent pieces of glass frombeing produced during separation of the long-and-narrow portion 19 fromthe panel sections 1 b and 1 b, when gaps are formed at the flanks.

As can be understood from the foregoing description, removing thelong-and-narrow portion 19 from the large-area empty panel 30 (FIG. 13)produces a large-area empty panel 30 a in which long-and-narrow portionshave been removed from the opposing substrate 1. Removal of thelong-and-narrow portions 19 causes the liquid crystal injection openings16 a of the liquid crystal sealing-in areas 17, as well as theconnecting terminal sections 20 a to be exposed to the outside at thesame time.

In Step P6 of FIG. 19 in which the connecting terminal sections areremoved, a plurality of cuts 28 b are formed on the surface of thesubstrate 4 in a direction perpendicular to the scribed cuts 18 a and 18b on the opposing substrate 1 side, as shown in FIG. 15. Long-and-narrowportions 29, bordered by the scribed cuts 28 b, are removed from thesubstrate 4. When they are removed, a large-area empty panel 39 c, asshown in FIG. 16, is formed, in which portions of the substrate 4 havebeen removed to form panel sections 4 b and 4 b. In the empty panel 30c, the connecting terminal sections 20 b formed on the inside face ofthe opposing substrate 1 are exposed to the outside by the removal ofthe long-and-narrow portions 29.

FIG. 17 is a view showing the large-area empty panel 30 c of FIG. 16turned upside down. The plurality 35 of connecting terminals of theconnecting terminals 20 b are connected to the wirings formed on theinner sides of the opposing substrate 1and the substrate 4 within theliquid crystal sealing-in areas, as a result of which each pixel of aliquid crystal display section becomes conductive through the wiring.

In Step P7 of FIG. 19 in which the liquid crystal is injected, thelarge-area empty panel 30 c of FIG. 16 is placed in a space with reducedpressure, followed by dripping of the liquid crystal at each liquidcrystal injection opening 16 a, after which the pressure around theempty panel 30 c is returned back to atmospheric pressure, whereby theliquid crystal is injected into each of the liquid crystal sealing-inareas 17. In the following Step P8 in which the liquid crystal is sealedin the area 17, each liquid crystal sealing-in area 17 is filled withthe liquid crystal, followed by sealing of each of the liquid crystalinjection opening 16 a with a sealing agent.

In Step P9 in which a lighting test is performed, the sealing of each ofthe openings 16 a in the large-area liquid crystal panel 30 c of FIGS.16 and 17 is followed by various electrical tests performed bycontacting a test terminal to the connecting terminals of the exposedconnecting terminal sections 20 a and 20 b. For example, a lighting testfor each of the liquid crystal display sections is performed. The lighttest is performed to check for possible pixel defects visually or byimage processing, when each of the pixels of the liquid crystaldisplay-sections are completely turned on and off. Then, when necessary,corrections are made.

Step P10 of FIG. 19 is performed to mount an integrated circuit. Whenproducing a driver mounted type liquid crystal panel, or the so-calledchip-on-glass (COG) type liquid crystal panel, using the above-describedlarge-area liquid crystal panel 30 c as material, an external terminalof an integrated circuit chip 31, used as an electrical part, isconnected to each connecting terminal in the connecting terminalsections 20 b through an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) so as toallow electrical conduction. A driving circuit is built in eachintegrated circuit chip 31 in order to selectively drive the pluralityof electrodes formed on the opposing substrate 1 and the substrate 4 forliquid crystal display. Although not shown in the figure, a drivingcircuit is also connected to each of the connecting terminal sections 20b of the substrate 4 b (4) so as to allow electrical conduction.

As regards the liquid crystal panel, there may be cases where a tapecarrier package (TCP), being an electrical part with an IC chip mountedto a flexible print plate using tape automated bonding (TAB) techniques,is to be connected to a liquid crystal panel, or an IC chip is to beconnected to a liquid crystal panel using a flexible wiring plate as anelectrical part, in addition to the case where the aforementioned COGtype liquid crystal is to be produced. In addition, it is possible toproduce a driver built-in type panel by forming an active element and adrive circuit within the connecting terminal section at the same time.

In Step 11 of FIG. 19 in which a display drive test is performed, theliquid crystal display characteristics of the liquid crystal panel canbe inspected after mounting the integrated circuit chip 31 by performingvarious electrical tests, such as a liquid crystal display driving testor operation test, on the resulting large-area liquid crystal panel 30 cafter connection of the integrated circuit chip 31. It is also possibleto perform the various electrical tests on the liquid crystal panel,while an electrical member other than the integrated circuit chip 31,such as a TCP or a flexible wiling plate, remains connected to thelarge-area liquid crystal panel 30 c, when such electrical members areconnected to the connecting terminal sections 20 b.

After performing electrical connection and electrical tests on thelarge-area liquid crystal panel 30 c, the opposing substrate 1 and thesubstrate 4 are cut and divided into the individual liquid crystal panelsections. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 18, in the large-area liquidcrystal panel 30 c, the panel sections 1 b, which are formed parallel toeach other, cross the panel sections 4 b, which are also formed parallelto each other. Therefore, the individual liquid crystal panel sectionscan be divided by cutting either one of the opposing substrate 1 and thesubstrate 4. Consequently, the panel 30 c can be cut into the individualliquid crystal panel sections, without creating a stress in the liquidcrystal panel structure, thereby allowing proper division of the panelinto the individual liquid crystal panel sections.

As can be understood from the foregoing description, in this embodiment,all of the steps from the substrate processing Step P1 to the displaydriving testing step P11 can be performed without cutting one of thelarge-area transparent substrates, nor the large-area empty panel, orthe large-area liquid crystal panel, thus making it unnecessary toperform the liquid injection step P7 or the liquid crystal sealing stepP8 on a plurality of intermediate-area panels, as has beenconventionally the case. In addition, the lighting test step, Step P9,the integrated circuit mounting step P10, and the display driving teststep P11, can also be per-formed without completely cutting thelarge-area panel, thus making it unnecessary to cut the panel intoindividual panels to perform these steps.

Therefore, since the aforementioned steps can be performed withoutcompletely cutting the large-area panel, the manhour required and thenumber of steps are correspondingly reduced, and, for example, jigs,containers, or other devices no longer need to be used in correspondencewith the different-sized panels, thus permitting each of the productionsteps of FIG. 19 to be performed on the same large-area panelmanufacturing line. This results in reduced production costs andmanufacturing time, that is increased production efficiency.

When the liquid crystal injection portion removing step P5, and theconnecting terminal section removing step P6 are performed one after theother, Step P6 can precede Step P5. In addition, when the substrateremoving step comprises the liquid crystal injection portion removingstep P5, and the connecting terminal section removing step P6, onlyportions of the substrate that need to be cut are cut and separated, sothat the next step can be performed on the large-area panel withoutcutting it into smaller panel sections, thus making it easier to washthe panel after substrate removal, and preventing production failuresresulting form flying glass pieces. Although poor connection is verylikely to occur due to pieces of glass that adhere onto the connectingsection when, for example, an integrated circuit chip or a flexiblesubstrate is connected to the connecting terminal section thisembodiment ensures that such problems will not occur.

FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of a liquid crystal panelproduction method in accordance with the invention. This embodimentdiffers from the embodiment of FIG. 19 in that the seal 16 is hardened,not immediately after the opposing substrate 1 and the substrate 4 havebeen bonded together in Step P3, but after performing the liquid crystalinjection portion removing step P5, and the connecting terminal sectionremoving step P6, whereby portions of the opposing substrate 1 and thesubstrate 4 are removed.

According to this embodiment, the panel sections 1 b and 1 b can beeasily and smoothly slid in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 24, sincethe seal 16 has not yet been hardened.

FIG. 21 illustrates still another embodiment of a liquid crystal panelproduction method in accordance with the invention. The distinctivefeature of this embodiment is that after performing the liquid crystalinjection portion removing step P5, and the connecting terminal sectionremoving step P6, in order to remove portions of the opposing substrate1 and the substrate 4, the liquid crystal injection opening 16 a issealed, not immediately after injecting the liquid crystal (in theliquid crystal injection step P7) without hardening the seal 16, butafter hardening the seal 16.

According to this embodiment, after liquid crystal injection, hardeningof the seal 16 as well as sealing of the liquid crystal opening can beperformed, while the opposing substrate 1 and the substrate 4 are keptspaced apart by a fixed distance, so that the liquid crystal panel canbe formed to a precise thickness.

FIG. 22 illustrates still another embodiment of a liquid crystal panelproduction method in accordance with the invention. The distinctivefeature of this embodiment is that the seal hardening step P4, theliquid crystal injection step P7, and the liquid crystal sealing stepP8, are performed between the liquid crystal injection portion removingstep PS and the connecting terminal section removing step P6, so thatthe step P5, and the step P6 are not performed one after the other.

FIG. 25 illustrates a main step of still another embodiment of a liquidcrystal panel producing method in accordance with the invention. In thismethod, portions of a substrate are removed by a method other than thoseadopted in the previous embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24.

As illustrated in FIG. 25, the method includes or consists of formingscribed cuts 18 a and 18 b obliquely on the surface of the transparentsubstrate 1, and then exerting force onto the scribed cuts, formingoblique flanks. This forms a long-and-narrow portion 19, with theoblique ruptured faces forming the side faces thereof, so that, as shownin FIG. 26, when the separating tool 21, used to adsorb thelong-and-narrow portion, is raised upward in the direction of arrow C,the long-and-narrow portion can be easily taken out, without having toapply force to the panel sections 1 b and 1 b. In this case, it is alsopossible to prevent the production of pieces of glass.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 20, in order to ensure removal ofthe long-and-narrow portion 19, the seal hardening step P4, follows thesubstrate removing step comprising the liquid crystal injection portionremoving step P5, and the connecting terminal section removing step P6,such that during removal of the long-and-narrow portion 19, the panelsections 1 b and 1 b on both sides of the long-and-narrow portion 19 canbe readily moved away from the long-and-narrow portion 19. As shown inFIG. 26, however, when the side faces of the long-and-narrow portion 19are oblique faces, the long-and-narrow portion 19 can be reliablyremoved without moving the panel sections 1 b and 1 b horizontally, sothat during the substrate removing step, the seal does not necessarilyhave to be in a softened state. Therefore, the embodiment in which theside faces of the long-and-narrow portion 19 are oblique faces can besuitably applied to a producing method in which the seal hardening stepP4 is performed before the substrate removing step (that is, the liquidcrystal injection portion removing step P5 and the connecting terminalsection step P6).

FIG. 27 illustrates still another embodiment of a liquid crystal panelproducing method in accordance with the invention. In the producingmethod, the liquid crystal sealing-in areas 37 are disposed in anorderly and regular fashion, with each liquid crystal injection opening36 a and each connecting terminal section 40 disposed at opposite sidesof its associated liquid crystal sealing-in area 37. In this case,opening of the liquid crystal injection openings 36 a and the exposingof the connecting terminal sections 40 can take place at the same time.However, this is true only when the connecting terminal section 40 isformed on the inner face of the other substrate.

Accordingly, even in cases where the opening of the liquid crystalopening and the exposing of the connecting terminal section occur at thesame time, that is performed in a single substrate removing step, thesubstrate removing step can be performed without completely cutting thelarge-area panel, and the number of steps in the substrate removing stepcan be reduced.

The connecting terminal sections may be formed on two or more sides ofthe liquid crystal sealing-in area. In such a case, it is possible toexpose the connecting terminal section on one side at the same time theliquid crystal: injection opening 36 a is opened, as shown in FIG. 27,and to expose the connecting terminal section on another side fromanother location where a portion of the substrate has been removed. Inaddition, it is possible to expose two or more connecting terminalsections on different sides of adjacent liquid crystal sealing-in areasfrom a common location where a portion of the substrate has beenremoved.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for producing a liquid crystal panel byforming a plurality of liquid crystal sealing-in areas between a pair oflarge-area substrates, at least one of said substrates being alight-transmitting substrate, and cutting said plurality of liquidcrystal scaling-in areas into separate areas, said method comprising:forming transparent electrodes which form a plurality of liquid crystalpanels on a surface of each substrate of said pair of large-areasubstrates; forming a plurality of seals, each of which surround saidtransparent electrodes required to form one liquid crystal panel, on theelectrode-formed surface of one of said pair of large-area substrates toform said plurality of liquid crystal sealing-in areas, and formingliquid crystal injection openings in each of said plurality of seals;bonding together said pair of large-area substrates such that saidtransparent electrodes of a first one of said pair of large-areasubstrate faces said transparent electrodes of a second one of saidpairs of said large-area substrates, with said seals interposed betweensaid substrates; removing a portion of one of said pair of large-areasubstrates bonded together such that at least one of said liquid crystalinjection openings is exposed; injecting liquid crystal into said liquidcrystal sealing-in area through at least one of said liquid crystalinjection openings, and then scaling said liquid crystal injectionopening; and dividing said pair of bonded large-area substrates intoseparate liquid crystal panels after the liquid crystal injection.
 2. Amethod for producing a liquid crystal panel according to claim 1,further comprising forming an active element group, connected to saidtransparent electrodes for electrical conduction, on a surface of one ofsaid pair of large-area substrates.
 3. A method for producing a liquidcrystal panel according to claim 1, wherein said pair of large-areasubstrates are glass substrates, and wherein said step of removing aportion of one of said pair of large-area substrates comprises forming acut on a surface of one of said glass substrates, and cutting along saidcut by applying a force to said cut, in order to remove a portion of oneof said large-area substrates.
 4. A method for producing a liquidcrystal panel according to claim 3, wherein said step of removing aportion of one of said pair of large-area substrates comprises removingsaid portion from at least one of said large-area substrates, with a gapformed around said portion to be removed formed by said cutting.
 5. Amethod for producing a liquid crystal panel according to claim 1,wherein said step of forming a plurality of seals comprises forming saidplurality of seals such that said liquid crystal injection openings insaid seals are arranged in straight lines, and wherein said step ofremoving a portion of one of said pair of large-area substratescomprises forming two linear cuts along a direction of arrangement ofsaid plurality of liquid crystal injection openings disposed instraight-lines, and removing a long-and-narrow portion, bordered by saidlinear cuts, from one of said large-area substrates.
 6. A method forproducing a liquid crystal panel according to claim 5, wherein said stepof removing a portion of one of said pair of large-area substratescomprises removing the long-and-narrow portion from said large-areasubstrate, while panel sections disposed on both sides of saidlong-and-narrow portion are shifted away from said long-and-narrowportion, and wherein said method further comprises hardening at leastone of said plurality of seals after said step of removing a portion ofone of said pair of large-area substrates.
 7. A method for producing aliquid crystal panel according to claim 5, wherein said two linearsurface cuts are formed such that said long-and-narrow portion tapersfrom narrow to wide from the inner side to the outer side of saidportion.
 8. A method for producing a liquid crystal panel according toclaim 5, wherein said step of forming a plurality of seals comprisesforming two or more rows of said plurality of seals arranged such thatsaid liquid crystal injection openings are disposed in straight lines,with said liquid crystal openings of said seals adjacent to each otherand of different rows, forming pairs of openings, facing each other. 9.A method for producing a liquid crystal panel according to claim 1,wherein said step of removing a portion of one of said pair oflarge-area substrates comprises removing a window-shaped portion fromone of said pair of large-area substrates.
 10. A method for producing aliquid crystal panel according to claim 9, wherein said step of forminga plurality of seals comprises forming two or more rows of saidplurality of seals arranged such that said liquid crystal injectionopenings are disposed in straight lines, with said liquid crystalopenings of said seals adjacent to each other and of different rows,forming pairs of openings, facing each other, and wherein said step ofremoving a portion of one of said pair of large-area substratescomprises cutting out and removing a window-shaped portion from one ofsaid large-area substrates such that said liquid crystal injectionopenings forming a pair of facing openings are exposed to the outside atthe same time.
 11. A method for producing a liquid crystal panel byforming a plurality of liquid crystal sealing-in areas between a pair oflarge-area substrates, at least one of said substrates being alight-transmitting substrate, and dividing said plurality of liquidcrystal sealing-in areas into separate areas, said method comprising:forming transparent electrodes which form a plurality of liquid crystalpanels and a connecting terminal connected thereto on a surface of eachsubstrate of said pair of large-area substrates; forming a plurality ofseals, each of which surround said transparent electrodes required toform one liquid crystal panel, on the electrode-formed surface of one ofsaid pair of large-area substrates to form said plurality of liquidcrystal scaling-in areas, forming liquid crystal injection openings ineach of said plurality of seals, and forming connecting terminalsections around each of said liquid crystal sealing-in areas; bondingtogether said pair of large-area substrates such that said transparentelectrodes of a first one of said pair of large-area substrate facessaid transparent electrodes of a second of said pair of large-areasubstrates, with said seals interposed between said substrates; removinga portion of one of said pair of large-area substrates bonded togethersuch that at least one of said liquid crystal injection openings and atleast one of said connecting terminal sections are exposed; injectingliquid crystal into said liquid crystal sealing-in area through at leastone of said liquid crystal injection opening, and then sealing saidliquid crystal injection opening; and dividing said pair of bondedlarge-area substrates into separate liquid crystal panels after theliquid crystal injection.
 12. A method for producing a liquid crystalpanel according to claim 11, wherein said step of removing a portion ofone of said pair of large-area substrates comprises two separate stepsof removing a portion of said large-area substrate such that at leastone of said liquid crystal injection openings is exposed to the outside,and removing a portion of said large-area substrate such that at leastone of said connecting terminal sections is exposed to the outside. 13.A method for producing a liquid crystal panel according to claim 11,further comprising performing an electrical test through said connectingterminal section exposed to the outside, wherein said electrical test isperformed between said injecting of said liquid crystal and saiddividing of said pair of bonded large-area substrates.
 14. A method forproducing a liquid crystal panel according to claim 11, wherein saidstep of removing a portion of one of said pair of large-area substratescomprises removing long-and-narrow portions of said pair of large-areasubstrates such that said long-and-narrow portion of said one large-areasubstrate intersects said long-and-narrow portion of said otherlarge-area substrate.
 15. A method for producing a liquid crystal panelaccording to claim 11, wherein said pair of large-area substrates areglass substrates, and wherein said step of removing a portion of one ofsaid pair of large-area substrates comprises forming a cut in a surfaceof one of said glass substrates, and cutting along said cut by applyinga force to said cut, whereby a portion of one of said large-areasubstrates is removed.
 16. A method for producing a liquid crystal panelaccording to claim 15, wherein said step of removing a portion of one ofsaid pair of large-area substrates comprises removing said portion fromsaid large-area substrate, with a gap formed around said portion to beremoved formed by said cutting.
 17. A method for producing a liquidcrystal panel according to claim 15, wherein a cut is formed such thatsaid long-and-narrow portion tapers from narrow to wide from the innerside to the outer side of said portion.
 18. A method for producing aliquid crystal panel according to claim 13, wherein said electrical testis performed after connection of at least one electrical member to saidconnecting terminal section.